Sometimes simple solutions rule. Isn’t it great when that happens? Well, recent research shows that a simple solution can help prevent juvenile diabetes for millions of children all around the world – and simple salmon is the solution!

Research from a nationwide study at the Norwegian Institute of Health revealed that when parents give their children cod liver oil (don’t worry, I’ll get to the salmon), during their first year of life, the risk of juvenile diabetes goes down by more than 25%. That’s significant. And the discovery was so important it was published in the highly respected, peer-reviewed American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Scientists believe the reason for these results is the inflammation reducing capabilities of omega 3 fatty acids in certain fish with high EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Those names are a mouthful, but they work wonders. And salmon is the highest source of EPA and DHA. (See, I told you I’d get to the salmon!)

There are two kinds of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. In both diseases, the body is unable to make insulin properly or use and store glucose. This causes blood sugar problems. Type 2 diabetes is traditionally adult onset. But, because of poor lifestyle health habits, more and more children are developing Type 2 diabetes.

Juvenile onset diabetes (type 1) usually begins in childhood or adolescence. And then the production of insulin shuts down entirely requiring daily insulin injections. Over time, there are often complications for insulin-depend diabetics. Within 15 years of the onset, over 80% end up with major eye damage. Some have kidney failure and need kidney dialysis to survive. And 35% of juvenile diabetics die from heart attacks before their mid-fifties.

Isn’t it great that omega 3 fish are swimming to the rescue? But, it’s not the first time. Over the past two decades, research has proven that EPA and DHA have many incredible health benefits, including positive results for people with type 2 diabetes. Now this new study shows omega 3 fish oil can also help prevent type 1 juvenile onset diabetes. Kind of makes you want to kiss a fish. (Or maybe not!)

EPA and DHA are found in cold water fish like cod and salmon. And salmon, from unpolluted Arctic Ocean waters, is the purest, most potent source. Since a common cause of type 1 diabetes is autoimmune disease, scientists believe the extraordinary natural, anti-inflammatory, immune building properties of omega 3 fish are what helps to prevent juvenile diabetes.

When taken by a mother during pregnancy and nursing, pure fish oil with EPA and DHA provides many other life-long health benefits for children. For example, it greatly improves a baby’s nervous system, vision and hearing. Research also shows omega 3 fish oil is vitally important for the development of a baby’s brain and produces higher intelligence.

So, if you want your child to grow up smart, strong and healthy and be well equipped to swim up stream, my recommendation is to make sure you and your family eat more cold water fish and add high quality omega 3 salmon oil capsules to your diet.

Michael Byrd has over 18 years of education and experience in physical therapy, health, fitness and nutrition. His pursuit of wellness has revealed all of the side effects fish oil can have on your health. Visit his site today to get your Free 20 minute audio CD by visiting http://www.omega-3.us.

If you have diabetes, you may find that the holiday season leaves you depressed over the food that you cannot consume. It may be difficult to keep your blood sugar levels stable during this time of the year, especially if your family gathers and everyone brings good things to eat.

The holidays bring with it constant eating, unhealthy dishes, stress, and depression, which can have an adverse affect on your diabetes. That is why it is so important that you prepare in advance for the holidays so that you can enjoy them.

The most important thing that you can do is talk to your family and friends before the holidays roll around. Suggest foods that you can eat or activities that everyone can share in that do not revolve around eating. Even if you discuss this with your family, you still need to keep in mind that you may still be faced with temptation.

If your child has diabetes, it is important that you discuss food needs with his teacher so that he will not feel different from his classmates. There are many alternatives to sugary sweet food and it is up to you to help others to learn about them.

Offering other activities will allow your family to focus on other things besides food. You may want to set up an area where you and your family can do activities like crafts, board games, puzzles, or even karaoke.

You need to check your blood sugar more often during the holidays. Many things can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, including stress and activity. You want to make sure that you plan ahead during the holidays by taking extra insulin or preparing for a blood sugar level drop.

If your child has diabetes, you may find that it is more difficult to keep their sugar levels stable due to their high level of excitement over the holiday. If you check the levels often, you will be able to catch any changes before they become dangerous.

Low blood sugar levels are very important to watch for. Normally a piece of candy or cake raises your sugar levels, but excitement and merrymaking can cause your blood sugar to drop so you need to be prepared. Keep in mind that your body will respond the stimulation and excitement in much the same way that it does when you are active and exercise.

Do not forget to exercise during the holidays. It is important, especially if you have diabetes. You may want to take a hike, go ice-skating, go for a walk, or do a workout video to get your exercise in during this cold and busy season. Regular exercise will keep your blood sugar levels stable and will help to release some stress.

The most important thing that you need to do is relax and have fun. Enjoy your family and realize that you can have a happy holiday season even if you have diabetes. All it takes is a little pre-planning and moderation.

The incidence of diabetes is on the rise. Learn more about diabetes treatment on this site here at http://www.diabetes-treatment-research-hub.com.

Insulin resistance is now being understood to be a major contributor to the onset of diabetes. While we know that glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin tests can be used to detect diabetes type I or II, many in the general public did not realize that higher glucose levels over a long period of time can create insulin resistance, thus setting the stage for the more serious forms of diabetes in the future.

What causes insulin resistance? One can point to current dietary habits and lack of exercise as the main contributors.

The body’s cells need sugar in order to run their metabolic functions, from brain activity to running to the tasks of everyday living. Most of this sugar is presented to the cells through the bloodstream in the form of glucose. Glucose is produced by the liver from foods that are digested in the stomach and small intestine, and whose components end up in the liver for further processing. The liver produces enough glucose to power the then-needs of the body, while converting the rest of the sugars to fat for storage for later use.

The liver creates glucose from all food types, but is particularly stimulated by the carbohydrates, which are easier to convert to glucose with fewer byproducts (such as ketones, which are poisonous byproducts of the production of glucose from proteins).

Two general types of carbohydrates stimulate the liver in different ways: the ‘simple’ carbohydrates are converted much faster, and create large amounts of glucose relatively quickly after ingestion. Simple carbohydrates include all the things that we love to eat, but are regarded as junk food by the general media: unrefined sugars, such as those found in soft drinks and in our cereals, flour, such as that found in white bread and fried foods, and sugar found in candies like chocolate bars and ‘energy bars,’ which are mainly sugars.

The ‘complex’ carbohydrates, on the other hand, are converted to glucose at a much slower rate, which means that there is less of a glucose peak after one eats complex carbs. Complex carbohydrates include whole-wheat bread, spaghetti and other forms of pasta, and starches found in legumes like beans and potatoes. These are ‘complex’ because the liver must perform a series of chemical transformations before converting to the end-product, glucose.

Insulin resistance is the result of too much glucose circulating in the bloodstream for too long a time. The high levels of glucose stimulate the pancreas (more specifically, the Islets of Langerhans) to produce more insulin. And more insulin circulating in the bloodstream means that the cells are ‘tired’ of the excess of hormonal signal, and develop a resistance to the chemical.

Simple carbs, consumed in too great a quantity, are clear causes of this insulin overproduction. The other factor which contributes is inactivity. That is, the less one exercises, the less the body is able to absorb the glucose which is produced in such high quantities by the liver.

If, for example, one eats too many simple carbs, but goes out and runs for an hour, much of the insulin messages are accepted by the cells, glucose levels are reduced and insulin resistance doesn’t occur.

Insulin resistance is therefore caused by two main factors: the types of food one eats, and the amount of exercise one does after eating. Both affect the level of insulin circulating in the bloodstream, and therefore can have an important influence over insulin resistance by the body’s cells.

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance.

Diabetes can be a major factor in hair loss for a lot of people. The hair loss will normally begin at the onset of diabetes and gradually gets worse as the disease progresses. It is normal to shed some hair each day, but when the shedding rate exceeds the rate of re-growth, that is when you will start to notice thinning hair or bald patches.

Hair has a growth cycle. A normal hair growth cycle will last for 2 to 6 years. The growth stage of the cycle is known as the anagen stage. Each hair on your head grows at a rate of approximately one half inch per month. Ninety percent of all the hair on your head is in the growth stage at one time. The other ten percent of your hair is in what is known as the telogen or resting phase. The resting phase will last for two to three months and then that hair is shed. New hair will start to grow from the same hair follicle to replace the shed hair. This cycle repeats itself over and over, year after year.

Being a diabetic increases your chance of hair loss. Diabetics are more prone to get skin infections and other fungal infections that can affect the scalp. Stress from the disease can also cause hair loss. Certain medicines that you may be taking for diabetes or other conditions can also cause your hair to fall out.

Getting your diabetes under control should be the first step that you take. Hair loss may stop after your blood sugar is under control and your body is able to function normally. Some hair loss may require medical treatment. If your hair loss is caused by a fungal infection, medication would be needed to get rid of the infection. Other hair loss medications may be beneficial in helping to regrow the hair that is lost. Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

If your hair loss appears to be more permanent, you may want to consider surgical intervention such as a hair transplant. This consists of taking hair from the back of the head and moving it to the areas of baldness. A candidate for hair transplant surgery is someone who has a fringe of hair along the sides and back of the head. This hair is used as donor hair and can be placed wherever needed.

Diabetes can cause a lot of symptoms. Unfortunately, hair loss is one of them. It is vital that you maintain good blood sugar levels, follow your diabetic diet and start exercising. Lose those excess pounds and follow up with your doctor frequently. You may be able to halt the hair loss in it’s tracks.

If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes, check out The Truth About Diabetes. What you don’t know could kill you! Jeff also suggests visiting http://www.FreeArticles.com to read 50+ free diabetes articles.

Diabetes is a serious illness brought about by a persons genetic disposition: his likelihood to develop a pancreatic disease. If your family is prone to the disease, read this article to detect the symptoms of diabetes as early as possible.

Type I Diabetes

Type I is known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It is less common in the US though is the most severe and usually develops within a few days or weeks. In IDDM, the lack of insulin stems from destruction of the beta cells. The symptoms associated with IDDM are so distinct that they rarely leave any doubt of the diagnosis. They are as follows:

Polyuria: Urinating frequently and in large amounts is a classic symptom of diabetes, as the body rushes fluids through the kidney to dilute the high levels of sugar in the urine.

Polydipsia: An unusual thirst is a natural result of too frequent urination: the body is signaling for lost fluids to be replaced. Dehydration will eventually occur if the condition is not caught early.

Polyphagia: This feeling of extreme hunger stems from the body’s belief that it is starving because glucose is not reaching its cells to provide desperately needed energy.

Rapid Weight Loss: Most Type I patients are at or below their ideal weight. When IDDM begins, they may suddenly lose more weight as much as 15 pounds in a week even though they may be eating more than enough and have a good appetite. The lack of insulin means that calories, in the form of glucose, are being sent out through the urine and the body is beginning to burn fat reserves.

Weakness: Since muscle cells are not receiving their usual fuel, energy flags. Of course, fatigue can have many causes, which is why diabetes can go unrecognized for so long. Be concerned if a once active child seems tired, drowsy, or listless for no apparent reason. Some children may also complain of stomach, leg, or chest pains, or have difficulty breathing.

Irritability: In youngsters, crankiness, confusion or excessive crying may warn of impending illness. A child may seem to be inattentive or may not be doing as well in school as before.

Nausea and/or Vomiting: These symptoms may precede ketoacidosis, as poisonous ketone acids build up in the blood when the body must resort to burning fat deposits for energy.

Blurred Vision: Excess glucose may be seeping into the eye, changing the shape of the lens. Difficulty in focusing or changes in eyesight from one day to the next such as from nearsighted to normal vision are other visual cues for possible diabetes.

TYPE II

Type II, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), makes up the majority of diabetes cases, estimated that about 13 million people in the US. Unlike Type I, Type II progresses more slowly. It can creep along unnoticed for years. Symptoms may appear gradually, becoming more intense or frequent with age. See your doctor as soon as you observe any of the following:

Any of Type I symptoms

Tingling or Numbness in Legs, Feet, or Fingers: Or you may have a burning sensation or heightened sensitivity in these extremities or on other spots on your skin. Symptoms, such as leg cramps, may appear or worsen only at night. Again, these may be signs that circulation is poor or that nerve damage is already progressing.

Frequent Infections: Diabetes weakens the body’s defenses against invasions of bacteria. Infections of the gums, urinary tract, or skin that keep recurring or take a long time to clear up show that the disease may have begun interfering with the immune system.

Itching of Skin or Genitals: This may be the result of an underlying infection or dehydration, a common by-product of diabetes.

Slow Healing of Cuts and Bruises: Because diabetes affects how cells use the nutrients obtained from food, the body may have difficulty repairing damaged tissue. Diabetes also thickens blood vessels, slowing circulation and preventing wounds from receiving, through the blood, these needed nutrients and oxygen.

Unfortunately, too many of these symptoms can be overlooked or blamed on other conditions. Make sure to have your blood sugar level checked yearly, at the very least, and more frequently if there are manifestations of any of the symptoms above.

Diabetes The Silent Killer can be found at http://www.health-fitness-lifestyle.com/sp/coping-with-diabetes.html